Max Bell Public Policy Training Institute


 

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Application Deadline: Friday, May 30, 2008 5:00 pm Mountain Time

The Max Bell Public Policy Training Institute (MBPPTI) is a training program for individuals working in Alberta registered charities with a demonstrated interest and engagement in public policy. On completion of the program, participants will have enhanced their knowledge and skills required to develop, inform, and monitor public policy on issues relevant to their organizations.

The program is aimed at participants who can articulate an issue where a specific public policy change could have a significant impact.

The program's lead faculty for 2008-2009 is Jim Dinning. Mr. Dinning has extensive experience in government as both a senior public servant and as an elected MLA. In 1983, he became Alberta's Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. He was elected to the provincial legislature in the riding of Calgary-Shaw in 1986. During his three terms, he served as Minister of Community and Occupational Health, Minister of Education, and provincial Treasurer. He left office in 1997 and became Senior Vice-president at TransAlta Corporation. He has served as Chairman of the Calgary Health Region, and is now chairman of Western Financial Group Inc.

The 12-day program will run over a seven-month period from October 2008 to May 2009. It includes a series of 6 modules of 2 days each led by leading public policy experts. In addition, each of the 25 participants will receive one-on-one coaching during the program to provide personalized advice and support to develop a policy-ready position on a given issue by program end.

The sessions will alternate between Calgary and Edmonton. Travel and accommodation bursaries will be provided to all participants. Each admitted participant will be required to pay a $500 materials fee.

The program is based on the Public Policy Training Institute developed by The Maytree Foundation for Toronto-based organizations.

Who Should Apply?

Staff, board members or volunteers employed/associated with Alberta registered charities that can clearly articulate an issue where a policy change could have a significant impact.

We ask that only individuals/organizations prepared to commit to attending all sessions and completing all institute assignments submit an application.

Program Curriculum Objectives

  • to enhance participants' understanding of how federal, provincial and municipal governments make policy decisions, so that they can participate more effectively in the public policy process;

  • to provide participants with training in how to develop practical and workable policy alternatives through both formal and informal learning formats such as lectures, case studies, readings, panel discussions, group work and presentations by participants;

  • to enable each participant to develop a policy ready position/product by the end of the program that responds to a given issue of individual/organizational interest.

Program Format

Two-day program modules will be delivered once monthly from October 2008 to April 2009. The tentative schedule is as follows:

  • Session One: Introduction To Public Policy; Calgary; October 23-24, 2008 (Faculty: Jim Dinning)

  • Session Two: Research and Its Roles; Edmonton; November 27-28, 2008 (Faculty: Nancy Reynolds - President and CEO of the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research; former Assistant Deputy Minister of Partnership and Innovation for Alberta Children's Services)

  • Session Three: Developing and Analyzing Policy Options; Calgary; January 22-23, 2009 (Faculty: Roger Gibbins - President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation; former Department Head of Political Science, University of Calgary)

  • Session Four: Informing and Engaging Decision Makers; Edmonton; March 12-13, 2009 (Faculty: Robert Wyatt - Executive Director of the Muttart Foundation; Co-Chair of the Voluntary Sector Initiative Joint Regulatory Table)

  • Session Five: Implementing, Monitoring, Evaluating; Calgary; April 23-24, 2009 (Faculty: Brenda Eaton - Chair, BC Housing Management Commission, former Deputy Minister to BC Premier Gordon Campbell, former Deputy Minister in Finance and Treasury Board; Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; and Social Services)

  • Session Six: Presentations from Participants; Edmonton; May 21-22, 2009

Modules will run from 1:00 to 5:00 on the first day, and from 9:00 to 3:00 on the second day. A dinner will be hosted for participants on the first day. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on the second day.

The program requires the completion of three assignments. Further, each participant will be offered an additional 2 hours of one-to-one coaching support to be scheduled during the program to support the development of a policy-ready position on a given issue by program-end.

A certificate will be awarded to all participants who successfully complete the program requirements.

Final program dates and faculty will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Travel and Accommodation

All sessions will be held at a downtown location, alternating between Calgary and Edmonton (locations to be confirmed).

Each participant's employing organization will receive:

  • a travel bursary of $390 (i.e., $130 for each of the 3 return trips between Calgary and Edmonton that each participant will be required to make);

  • an accommodation bursary of $600 (i.e., $200 for each of the 3 nights in either Calgary or Edmonton that each participant will be required to stay).

Additional subsidies may be available to organizations located outside of Calgary and Edmonton.

Max Bell Foundation